Sugar Bowl trip to cost UF close to $2.5 million

Published: Tuesday, December 25, 2012 at 11:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at 12:00 a.m.

The price of taking a team to the Sugar Bowl has risen for the Florida Gators three years after their last appearance in the game.

Because of more expenses being budgeted for travel and lodging, as well as two extra days of mini-camp back in Gainesville, Florida will spend 11 percent more than it did in 2009-10 to play in New Orleans, according to executive athletic director for external affairs Chip Howard.

All teams playing in BCS bowl games receive $1.825 million from the BCS. That amount hasn’t changed since 2009. Florida, as it usually does for a BCS bowl, has allocated $550,000 extra to cover the costs of the trip.

That money is basically taken in advance from the money that Florida (as well as the other SEC schools) will receive from the conference this spring.

Florida will use two planes to fly out the team first and a traveling party later. Lodging at the New Orleans Riverfront Hilton will cost $320,000.

Florida will also pay out $927,223 to coaches and staff members as bonuses for making a BCS bowl game.

The total expenses for UF’s trip to New Orleans is budgeted at $2.477 million. Including the $106,000 for mileage the program receives from the SEC and the $550,000 allocated to cover expenses, UF has budgeted for $2.481 in revenue.

The remainder of the $18 million that each BCS bowl team receives is sent to the league office, where it is divided 15 ways -- to the 14 teams and league office.

Last June, each SEC school received $20.1 million despite the bowl teams keeping $12.8 million for expenses. This year, there are nine SEC teams in bowl games.

<p>The price of taking a team to the Sugar Bowl has risen for the Florida Gators three years after their last appearance in the game.</p><p>Because of more expenses being budgeted for travel and lodging, as well as two extra days of mini-camp back in Gainesville, Florida will spend 11 percent more than it did in 2009-10 to play in New Orleans, according to executive athletic director for external affairs Chip Howard.</p><p>All teams playing in BCS bowl games receive $1.825 million from the BCS. That amount hasn't changed since 2009. Florida, as it usually does for a BCS bowl, has allocated $550,000 extra to cover the costs of the trip.</p><p>That money is basically taken in advance from the money that Florida (as well as the other SEC schools) will receive from the conference this spring.</p><p>Florida will use two planes to fly out the team first and a traveling party later. Lodging at the New Orleans Riverfront Hilton will cost $320,000.</p><p>Florida will also pay out $927,223 to coaches and staff members as bonuses for making a BCS bowl game.</p><p>The total expenses for UF's trip to New Orleans is budgeted at $2.477 million. Including the $106,000 for mileage the program receives from the SEC and the $550,000 allocated to cover expenses, UF has budgeted for $2.481 in revenue.</p><p>The remainder of the $18 million that each BCS bowl team receives is sent to the league office, where it is divided 15 ways -- to the 14 teams and league office.</p><p>Last June, each SEC school received $20.1 million despite the bowl teams keeping $12.8 million for expenses. This year, there are nine SEC teams in bowl games.</p>